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Cultural variation between neighbouring communities of chimpanzees at Gombe, Tanzania.

ABSTRACT: Comparative animal studies have revealed the existence of inter-group differences in socially learned behaviours - so-called cultural variations. However, most research has drawn on geographically and thus environmentally separated populations, rendering it difficult to exclude genetic or ecological influences. To circumvent this problem, the behaviour of neighbouring groups from the same population can be juxtaposed - an approach which in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) has revealed cultural differences in the use of nut-cracking and ant-dipping tools. Here I apply archaeological methods to extend this approach to compare the qualities of termite fishing tools used by wild chimpanzees by comparing the neighbouring Kasekela and Mitumba communities at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. While no identifiable differences existed between the available plant species and associated vegetal components, members of the Kasekela community selected a larger array of raw materials and manufactured significantly longer and wider tools compared with the Mitumba community. Thus, cultural knowledge is reflected in differentiated behaviour on a small spatial scale. This study emphasizes the use of archaeological methods to identify cultural variation among living chimpanzee communities, adding to the growing research operating within the new field of Primate Archaeology.

SUBMITTER: Pascual-Garrido A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6547654 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cultural variation between neighbouring communities of chimpanzees at Gombe, Tanzania.

Pascual-Garrido Alejandra A

Scientific reports 20190604 1

Comparative animal studies have revealed the existence of inter-group differences in socially learned behaviours - so-called cultural variations. However, most research has drawn on geographically and thus environmentally separated populations, rendering it difficult to exclude genetic or ecological influences. To circumvent this problem, the behaviour of neighbouring groups from the same population can be juxtaposed - an approach which in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) has revealed cultural ...[more]

PMID: 31164683

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Project description:Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules determine immune responses to viral infections. These polymorphic cell-surface glycoproteins bind peptide antigens, forming ligands for cytotoxic T and natural killer cell receptors. Under pressure from rapidly evolving viruses, hominoid MHC class I molecules also evolve rapidly, becoming diverse and species-specific. Little is known of the impact of infectious disease epidemics on MHC class I variant distributions in human populations, a context in which the chimpanzee is the superior animal model. Population dynamics of the chimpanzees inhabiting Gombe National Park, Tanzania have been studied for over 50 years. This population is infected with SIVcpz, the precursor of human HIV-1. Because HLA-B is the most polymorphic human MHC class I molecule and correlates strongly with HIV-1 progression, we determined sequences for its ortholog, Patr-B, in 125 Gombe chimpanzees. Eleven Patr-B variants were defined, as were their frequencies in Gombe's three communities, changes in frequency with time, and effect of SIVcpz infection. The growing populations of the northern and central communities, where SIVcpz is less prevalent, have stable distributions comprising a majority of low-frequency Patr-B variants and a few high-frequency variants. Driving the latter to high frequency has been the fecundity of immigrants to the northern community, whereas in the central community, it has been the fecundity of socially dominant individuals. In the declining population of the southern community, where greater SIVcpz prevalence is associated with mortality and emigration, Patr-B variant distributions have been changing. Enriched in this community are Patr-B variants that engage with natural killer cell receptors. Elevated among SIVcpz-infected chimpanzees, the Patr-B*06:03 variant has striking structural and functional similarities to HLA-B*57, the human allotype most strongly associated with delayed HIV-1 progression. Like HLA-B*57, Patr-B*06:03 correlates with reduced viral load, as assessed by detection of SIVcpz RNA in feces.

Project description:Oesophagostomum sp. is a parasitic nematode that frequently infects wild chimpanzees. Although nodular lesions are commonly associated with infection, some wild chimpanzee populations seem to tolerate Oesophagostomum nodular lesions while those at Gombe and other sites suffer from associated morbidity and mortality. From August 2004 to December 2013, we examined demographic (i.e., age, sex) and individual correlates (i.e., fecal consistency, Oesophagostomum egg production) to Oesophagostomum-associated pathology in 14 individually recognized chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. In addition, we characterized Oesophagostomum-associated pathology in 14 individual sympatric primates including baboons, colobus, and cercopithecid monkeys. In five chimpanzees, there was no evidence of any significant underlying disease aside from oesophagostomiasis to explain the thin condition or diarrhea. All five of these chimpanzees had moderate to numerous parasitic nodules. In general, nodules were more numerous in older chimpanzees. Three of four chimpanzees with the highest average Oesophagostomum egg counts in feces collected during the year prior to their death had numerous parasitic nodules at necropsy. In contrast, the four chimpanzees with the lowest egg counts had only moderate numbers of nodules. No association (P = 0.74) was noted between frequency of diarrhea in the year prior to death and the number of nodules noted at necropsy. Nodules were also present in all baboons examined documenting pathology associated with Oesophagostomum infection in wild baboons. In contrast, no lesions were noted in colobus or cercopithecid monkeys, although it is uncertain if they are infected as no fecal studies have been completed in these species to date at Gombe. Sequence of DNA isolated from nodules in chimpanzees matched (99%) Oesophagostomum stephanostomum. Further research is needed to identify the types of Oesophagostomum causing lesions in baboons and to determine if baboons suffer from these infections. Am. J. Primatol. 80:e22572, 2018. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Cultural variation between neighbouring communities of chimpanzees at Gombe, Tanzania.

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Cultural variation between neighbouring communities of chimpanzees at Gombe, Tanzania.

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